Confirmed Signing with Link: Shirokov to Vancouver

[ilovetheflyers8]

Originally Posted by DreamCatcher

We got him!

The end of that video was amazing!

[ilovetheflyers8]

Originally Posted by RandV

Well, it was quite a long saga if you missed it. To summarize though, Shirokov was extremely unhappy with his current KHL club, CSKA, and there were rumours starting about 2 months ago that as an RFA he had come to an agreement with the Canucks. Whether he actually meant to pursue this or was using the Canucks for leverage is unknown. But some obscure clause in the KHL said that he and that Colorado prospect (Parshin) rather than RFA's were automatically resigned to the KHL and couldn't leave because they had valid contracts. This was brought to an arbitrator in Russia, and the KHL side won.

Still refusing to play for his CSKA though, Shirokov was granted that if they did not trade his rights by today he'd become a full UFA, so now here he is.

Why was he unhappy with CSKA? I know very little about the KHL but isn't CSKA one of the premiere teams? I'm guessing this because to my knowledge CSKA was a very good team in the past and was brought here to play against NHL teams during the Cold War- am I wrong?

[Joseppi]

Originally Posted by Juneemoon

I think he's the one on the right....

haha...I think that's Denis Grebeshkov on the left.

I wonder if they're friends, and what shape that will take on during the season.

[canuckfromtoronto]

Whats his play like? What are the chances he makes the Canucks roster?

[BleedCanucks]

Originally Posted by Joseppi

haha...I think that's Denis Grebeshkov on the left.

I wonder if they're friends, and what shape that will take on during the season.

I believe the one on the left is Denis Parshin.

[lush]

Originally Posted by canuckfromtoronto

What are the chances he makes the Canucks roster?

In my opinion he has to outplay Grabner and also hope that Demitra stays injured (or gets injured again) to make our roster.

If both those things happen and he's not playing then clearly my expectations for him are too high, and his play is worse than Grabners.

If he's playing and our current roster has no injuries then I will be extremely impressed.

My only real thought is if Grabner simply has an edge on Shirokov because he's been playing under a coach with the same systems as the Canucks coach and manages to adapt far quicker to the NHL and the Canucks.

[Luck 6]

His chances of playing? Well let's see...

Sedin-Sedin-Samuelsson
Burrows-Kesler-xxx
xxx-xxx-Bernier
Hordichuk/xxx-Johnson-xxx

And we have Wellwood, Hodgson, Raymond, Grabner, Hansen, Rypien, Shirokov and an injured Demitra to slot in.

I could see a line-up something like this...

Sedin-Sedin-Samuelsson
Burrows-Hodgson-Kesler
Raymond-Wellwood-Bernier
Hordichuk/Hansen-Johnson-Rypien
with one of Grabner or Shirokov as an extra/call-up

The only guy on there that I could see not locking up a spot is Hodgson. Guys like Raymond and Wellwood may get scratched for stretches depending how the season goes...

If were talking skill wise I think Shirokov would fit in nicely on our 3rd line. But, to make that pheasible we need to free up some roster space,.